MAYBE OUR MINISTER is more au fait with the political and financial opportunities in Latin America than the Wild Coot. Maybe our ambassadors in those countries are able to provide him with the relevant information to foresee the gold that eluded Columbus.
However, after scouring the area for over 20 years, I feel that we have missed the boat while spending time and resources looking after mainly Canada, Uncle Sam, the United Kingdom and other northern countries.
Try as we must though, I wish him luck.
From in the 80s and 90s countries like Antigua, Montserrat, St Vincent, Caymans and Turks and Caicos were already exploring opportunities to enhance their offshore business sectors particularly in efforts to entice offshore banking and trust corporations to establish offices.
Many of the efforts brought unwanted and half-baked institutions to their shores. The process of weeding out the bad apples has now been completed. The efforts were not only confined to banking. These islands were going after all kind of business to enhance their international image.
For years the Wild Coot was part of this search, giving yeoman service to the archipelago of islands. His language facility a valuable asset, be it in Panama, be it in Ecuador or Peru, be it in Uruguay or Brazil, be it in Venezuela or Colombia, he ferreted out business.
We shall see what international business is left seeing that efforts to lure Panama and Brazil airlines are yet to succeed. We are a better people than what we see now. Despite the recent encouraging words of our leader and the praise heaped up on his second in command, our problem now is leadership.
We need to change the guard now. We were once the flagships of the Caribbean because of leadership. Alas, that leadership has escaped us for the past seven years and I predict for the next two years even if some praise the present agenda. After all, you cannot expect success from continuous failure doing the same thing over and over.
Barbadians deserve better than what they have got these last seven years. We Barbadians are capable of a better destiny but as patriotic people, we shall allow the turbulent river to run its course.
But change we must even if the lure of Grantleys, fridges, TV and a temporary surge in employment heralds 2017/18. It is not inconceivable that the necessary stored cheaper black gold will allow Government to offer treasures to be dispensed whenever elections are called. But Bajans, do not be gullible again as in 2013.
The price of oil has been reduced from $100 per barrel to just $40. Motorists and the electricity bill are still waiting.
Surely with better management, our university will be filled and our schools will teach again without dispute or boxing challenges by the minister; surely our hospital will cater to all and sundry and be adequately provisioned; surely our businesses will not be constrained to pay half wages but instead will seek to grow and to export; surely we shall cease compromising the viability of our National Insurance; surely our Central Bank will cease to print money; surely there will be a fair system of collecting garbage; surely the charge of corruption will subside; surely these things will happen.
Above all surely our country will not be owned by Trinidad or our Government bullied by the USA. Why? Because these things were so before. We Bajans know what paradise lost was and can be again.
Barbados is an economy comprising fewer than 300 000 people and tourists. While obeying many of the prescriptions of the International Monetary Fund, we are not yet in their hands or forced to follow their agenda. If we can manage to survive and change our Government, perhaps another regime will perform better in dealing with the debt crisis.
One cannot suggest an alternative set of financial and social changes now, as it is impossible to predict the future state at this deterioration. However if an honest, less politically driven approach can be discerned, Bajans will be prepared to put their backs to the plough.
My approach to the problem of banks selling properties under mortgage has been challenged in some quarters. People say that President Obama sought to protect the mortgagors from banks forgetting that he had already bailed out the banks. The banks were indebted to him and so were prepared to be lenient with their customers.
